Improvement in vehicle top-prop blocks



.-A. BUTTERFIELD.

VEHICLE-TOP PROP BLOCK. N. 171 988 7 Patented Jan.11,1&76.

momma 4 N-PETERS. PHOTWUTHDGRAFXER, WASHNGTON, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

. AND I. I. MGKIBBIN, 0F SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN VEHICLE TOP-PROP BLOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 171,988, dated January 11, 1876 application filed October 23, 1875.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW BUTTER- FIELD, of Huntsville, in the county of Madison and State of Alabama, have invented a new and Improved Top-Prop Block for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification My invention is a spring-extension 0f the block up along the bow, and a cushion on the end for the bow to rest on, whereby the springextension takes the strain 011' the bows'when the top is down, and prevents them from springirg and breaking, and they balance, or nearly so, on the spring, and thus relieve the slat or how irons, by which the bows are attached, from undue strains. The top is also preserved, and has an easy and graceful vibrating motion.

Figurel is a side elevation of my improved topprop contrivance. Fig. 2 is a plan view,

and Fig. 3 is a section on line as or.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the spring, which is attached to the prop-block B, and extended back along the bow C to the middle, or thereabout, and has a cushion, D, at the upper end for the bow to rest on.

The spring is a strong piece of flat steel,

capable of supporting the bows of the carriage-top, but at the same time having sufficient elasticity to afford easy support. It may be so fitted on the prop-block as to hold the top higher or lower, as may be preferred.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent As a new article of manufacture, for the purpose specified, a flat and quite, or nearly, straight spring, A, made narrower in the middle than at either end, and adapted to be rigidly fastened by screws, as shown and described.

ANDREW BUTTEBFIELD.

Witnesses:

A. HENTZ,

J. G. BAKER. 

